From "In the Spirit of Transparency" - November 6, 1998
Something truly beautiful has been happening to our community these past several weeks. In the whirl of intensifying preparations for the forthcoming presentation of Everlasting Light, coupled with a plethora of concurrent BLD activities, the Lord is fashioning a deeper sense of community and stronger bonds of friendships among our members- out of their blood, sweat and tears.
On Saturdays and Sundays, the 100 or so Everlasting Light cast & crew members and their families congregate St. Mary’s in Plainfield to rehearse their presentation, including the front act number. The other members work as hard in the background performing marketing, administrative, audio-visual and other responsibilities. Meanwhile, our regular pastoral and evangelical activities continue on at the same venue. The school, which was closed several years ago, has become alive with the vibrance and energy of the BLD family.
It is awesome to behold our members praising, learning, singing, dancing, playing, working, eating together on weekends. It is inspiring to see them jell into one cohesive unit focused on a single purpose- that of glorifying God through their work. It is fulfilling to hear their shouts of joy and exhilaration whenever their persistent practice is rewarded with achievement- hitting the right notes, making the right movements. Our young and old are witnessing to all what is true excellence in worship- for their personal offerings are an act of worship.
All these obviously come at a price. Sacrifices are being made at home, school, parish and work. Participants are tired and lacking sleep. Some have experienced oppressions. And there are still two weeks to go before the first show! Certainly, our own missions to the least of the brethren are feeling the impact. Fewer people come to minister to the elderly and infirm at our Lift ‘Em Up visitation program in Parkway Manor, and the Deanery 20 Saturday worship has been going acappella these past few weeks. This is the understandable outcome of the higher priority we gave to Everlasting Light. We hope these mission setbacks are temporary.
The continuous outpouring of love will make for a very successful Everlasting Light project. When all is said and done, our success will not be measured in terms of funds raised, but in how we channel our greater propensity to love. Will we have greater openness and increased willingness to minister to the least of the brethren? Will we bring the blessings of community to those whom God has given us to love and care for- the elderly and infirm, the poor? Christ’s love, channeled through our communal heart, is Everlasting Light to them.
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